Russell Brand’s Wife Testifies in His Defense at Actor’s Rape Trial

A day after Russell Brand told the court that not a “single person” would testify on his behalf at his rape trial, the actor’s wife took the stand Thursday in defense of her husband.

Laura Brand — who Russell married in 2017 and shares three children with — told the court about their 20-year history, including first dating in 2006 and the “full sexual relationship” that followed. Because Brand was incapable of monogamy at the time, she testified, the pair broke up but remained in touch, ultimately reconnecting in 2015 — following Brand’s short-lived marriage to Katy Perry — and ultimately marrying two years later.

Laura essentially served as a character witness, telling the court of her husband, “I feel very seen by him,” and added that Russell is “caring and kind, a wonderful father to our children, and an amazing, attentive husband.”

“We have a very honest, frank and clear relationship and marriage,” Laura Brand said on the stand. “Our relationship has always been [about] honesty… I love him very much.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Russell’s defense lawyer attempted to ask Laura about her thoughts on “the truth of the allegations” against her husband by six women  — the crux of the rape trial — but both the judge and prosecutors stopped that line of questioning.

Brand faces multiple charges related to his interactions with six women between 1999 and 2009; one count of attempted indecent assault, three counts of rape, and three counts of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty and has publicly denied the allegations.

During opening statements for the prosecution, lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones argued that Brand’s own comments throughout his fame and the testimony of the women prove that Brand is a serial sexual predator who used the sexual demeaning of women as a means to an end. “The circumstances of the offending were as wide and as varied as the defendant’s career,” Karmy-Jones said. “His strong desire for some form of sexual contact was indiscriminate and voracious.” 

The trial is expected to continue for another four weeks.